A suicide car bomb has exploded near a Nato military convoy in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar, killing at least eight civilians and wounding 22 other people, police said.

"There was a suicide bombing today [Thursday]. The target was a Canadian military convoy but it exploded before reaching its target," Zemarai Bashary, an Afghan interior ministry spokesman told AFP.

Sayed Agha Saqib, the Kandahar police chief, said no Nato troops were wounded in the blast.

The wounded include two policemen and seven who are in serious condition.

Initial reports had suggested that only three civilians died in the blast.

PHOTO CAPTION

Map of Afghanistan locating Kandahar   

Al-Jazeera